Our Route

Our Route

Saturday, 17 May 2014

Day Two - Valcarlos to Roncevalles - 13km even more up hill

We've just got back from the Pilgrims Mass. It was all in Basque (what a strange language) but there were bits in English. All the pilgrims had to go to the front at the end and receive a blessing. He said the blessing in about 10 different languages.
So yesterday was quite flat but today we had to get up the mountain to Roncevalles. We started up fairly gently but then..... 
I worked out today that just watching your feet do one step at a time is much better than looking up and up and up! 

 It was a great feeling when we finally got to the top!
Stopping for lunch down in the valley before the climb up! (It was 10 o'clock!)

DON"T look down - especially when the path is only 30cm wide!

Looking at the view.

Straight up through the forest

Valcarlos is in the distance

We started way back over there.

It doesn't look as steep in this photo!

That's where we walked from today - right in the distance

Arriving at Ronceville abbey

Pilgrims mass at Ronceville Abbey
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5 comments:

  1. char5:41 pm, May 17, 2014

    you made it through the hardest part!

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  2. Unknown9:17 am, May 18, 2014

    Thanks Lindsay's, I think I figured it out! Now from the comfort of my sofa, I watch the "walk". Do you listen to music while you walk?

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    Replies
    1. Unknown2:49 pm, May 18, 2014

      Yes, we do listen to music on iPods. Especially when the walk gets tough and it helps us focus. It's also strange how appropriate the shuffle tunes are - yesterday I heard "ain't no mountain high enough" and a song called "if you tolerate this then your children will be next" which is by one of my favourite UK groups and about the Spanish civil war

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  3. Daya12:37 pm, May 18, 2014

    Congratulations on your first tough day! It looks spectacular! Have you met any pace mates to walk with? I have always found that conversation on a long trek helps the kilometers seem shorter. Have you seen any wildlife? Love the photos! Thanks for including us all in your adventure! I am loving it! xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Unknown2:53 pm, May 18, 2014

      We met a bunch of people. We met 8 the first night and keep bumping into them again and chatting. They are from Seattle, Colorado, Brazil, Germany,Spain, Ireland and 6 Canadian folks 2 of who grew up with John duckworth's wife. In Manitoba

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